Stephen Godridge was described as a “sophisticated, predatory paedophile whose intent was to satisfy his predilection for sexual activity with teenage girls”
A former police special constable who “perfected his method” of grooming teenage girls over a number of years will challenge his life prison sentence at the Court of Appeal. Stephen Godridge was handed the sentence in July last year after a court heard he had groomed his teenage victim over Snapchat before raping her in the back of his car.
Godridge, who was 31 at the time of his most recent sentencing, had only been released from prison months beforehand after he had exploited two other girls in strikingly similar circumstances. A senior prosecutor told Liverpool Crown Court how the defendant was a “sophisticated, predatory paedophile whose intent was to satisfy his predilection for sexual activity with teenage girls”.
The court heard Godridge sent his 14-year-old victim a friend request on Snapchat before persuading her to send him pictures of her in her underwear. He then drove to Liverpool from his home in Bolton to collect her in his car, before he took her to Manchester to watch him play football.
But after driving her back to Merseyside, he escorted his victim to a car park where he sexually assaulted and raped her despite her pleas for him to stop. The court heard due to her “concern and apprehension” she took photos of the inside of his car and the route map.
This ultimately led to Godridge’s arrest after automatic number plate recognition technology confirmed that he had visited the area. Under interview, he claimed that he “believed that she was not underage” and alleged the teenager had told him that she was 17 before they engaged in consensual sex.
In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “This incident repeats in my mind on a constant replay. I’m scared he could hurt me or my family again. What this man did to me has had a big impact on my life. I’m scared for my future and how this is going to affect the rest of my life.”
Godridge, of Southfield Street in Bolton, was said to have “perfected his method over many years prior”, having received 57 months behind bars at Preston Crown Court in 2019 after being convicted of two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child.
In “exactly the same modus operandi” on this occasion, he befriended two 15-year-old girls separately on Snapchat while purporting to be aged 19 and 22 then sent them lewd images of himself and had sex with them in his car in secluded locations.
Reports from the time detailed how Godridge, who was also handed a sexual harm prevention order banning him from having contact with girls under the age of 16. He previously served as a special constable with Greater Manchester Police before he was suspended from duty after being arrested in October 2016. He later resigned from his role with the force and was released from his sentence four months prior to his latest offending.
Godridge was found guilty of two counts of rape, sexual assault, two charges of assault by penetration and breaching a sexual harm prevention order by a jury following a trial.
His counsel argued it was not necessary to pass a life sentence because they should “be reserved for much more serious cases”. He added: “It is not absolutely necessary in this case.”
However, Judge Gary Woodhall disagreed and handed Godridge a life sentence with a minimum term of 10 years and eight months. This means Godridge must serve at least the minimum term before he can become eligible to apply for parole.
The judge told Godridge: “Your previous sentence and protective order did nothing to prevent you from offending in an almost identical way again. This offending is therefore made so much more serious by virtue of it being the third occasion you have offended against young girls in this way.
“There is a complete failure to acknowledge your sexual interest in young girls. You presented to the probation officer as highly manipulative, which is indeed evident in your offending.”
Judge Woodall added: “There is a high likelihood of sexual reoffending, with the probation officer concluding that the risk you pose against young females would be very high. You refuse to fully grasp the significant physical, sexual, emotional and psychological harm that your offending causes…
“I am exceptionally driven to the conclusion that the risk you pose would not be adequately dealt with by an extended sentence. For all of these reasons, I am satisfied that your offending is so serious that a sentence of life imprisonment is required and that is the sentence which I impose.”
The Court of Appeal confirmed to the ECHO that Godridge will appear on June 26, where he will challenge his life sentence.
